Comment: Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Possible ex library copy, thatâ€TMll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included.

A long time ago, Raven was pure white, like fresh snow in winter. This was so long ago that the only light came from campfires, because a greedy chief kept the stars, moon, and sun locked up in elaborately carved boxes. Determined to free them, the shape-shifting Raven resourcefully transformed himself into the chief's baby grandson and cleverly tricked him into opening the boxes and releasing the starlight and moonlight. Though tired of being stuck in human form, Raven maintained his disguise until he got the chief to open the box with the sun and flood the world with daylight, at which point he gleefully transformed himself back into a raven. When the furious chief locked him in the house, Raven was forced to escape through the small smokehole at the top — and that's why ravens are now black as smoke instead of white as snow.This engaging Tlingit story is brought to life in painterly illustrations that convey a sense of the traditional life of the Northwest Coast peoples.About the Tales of the People series:Created with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Tales of the People is a series of children's books celebrating Native American culture with illustrations and stories by Indian artists and writers. In addition to the tales themselves, each book also offers four pages filled with information and photographs exploring various aspects of Native culture, including a glossary of words in different Indian languages.

Product description

From the Publisher

In this new addition to the popular Tales of the People series, striking illustrations combine with a fascinating retelling of a traditional Tlingit tale.

About the Tales of the People series:

Created with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Tales of the People is a series of children's books celebrating Native American culture with illustrations and stories by Indian artists and writers. In addition to the tales themselves, each book also offers four pages filled with information and photographs exploring various aspects of Native culture, including a glossary of words in different Indian languages.

About the Author

Maria Williams (Tlingit), who has a doctorate in ethnomusicology from UCLA, is the Native Folk Arts Director for the Alaska State Council on the Arts. She learned this story from her father, also Tlingit.

Felix Vigil (Jicarilla Apache/Jemez Pueblo) earned a degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art before teaching for several years at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe; he now lives and paints in Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico

This is a retelling of a Tlingit tale about how Raven used to be white and there was only darkness in the world. The chief of a tribe has the Sun, Moon, and Stars in boxes because he wants them for himself. Raven tricks the chief into releasing them, then turns black while escaping.

I've been reading this to my 4 year old for 5 months now, and he loves it. The illustrations are great, and the writing is very nice. It is also an appropriate length for someone his age or a little older. While the book is directed to a child, I like it too. I enjoy reading it to him.